The Top Ten: Ted Cruz gets hazed by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer

Each week, Texas on the Potomac gives you a second glimpse at the most popular posts on our site. Here are your ten favorite posts for the week of Dec. 30 to Jan.5:

1. Nancy Pelosi defends digitally altered photo that added a tardy Sheila Jackson Lee. The Democratic leader found herself on the defensive in response to charges that she altered a photo … to add four lawmakers who weren’t there. Rick Dunham reports >>

2. Texas House Republicans resoundingly say ‘no’ to bipartisan fiscal cliff deal. While both Texas senators — Republicans Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn — joined 87 other colleagues in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 257 to 167 to make the Bush-era tax cuts permanent for about 99 percent of Americans, the state’s delegation to the House of Representatives opposed the deal in a vote late on New Year’s night. Rick Dunham reports >>

3. Wolf Blitzer lectures Ted Cruz after Texas senator says he wouldn’t have voted for ‘ fiscal cliff’ deal. While appearing on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer this Thursday, Cruz insisted that like many of the Texas Republicans, he would not have voted for the ‘fiscal cliff’ deal. Jana Kasperkevic reports >>

4. Hutchison, Cornyn explain votes for ‘fiscal cliff’ deal. Texas Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison, two days before her retirement, and John Cornyn voted in favor of the deal. Rick Dunham reports >>

5. Nobody schmoozes like Joe Biden. Just watch the Veep in action as he greeted new and returning senators in Washington Thursday. Joe Garofoli reports >>

6. The essential Ron Paul: 50 classic Ron Paul quotations. Ron Paul has been making news for four decades with his blunt pronouncements on the Constitution, the Federal Reserve, U.S. interventionism, freedom and liberty. Here is a representative sampling of 50 quotations from speeches, books and newsletters that sum up the essence of the Texas lawmaker and three-time presidential candidate. Rick Dunham reports >>

7. John Culberson says he’s ‘dumbfounded and deeply disappointed’ by fiscal cliff deal. We offer a column by Houston Republican Rep. John Culberson explaining his strong opposition to the bipartisan “fiscal cliff” deal that was approved by the House. Click here to read it >>

8. La Raza: ‘Fiscal cliff’ deal is good for Latinos. The overwhelming majority of Texas House Republicans voted against it, but a prominent Latina leader said that the “fiscal cliff” compromise approved by the House of Representatives late last night is a good deal for Hispanic Americans. Rick Dunham reports >>

9. Sheila Jackson Lee says schools need retractable bulletproof doors to keep our children safe. “I cannot at this juncture believe that arming teachers, or that teachers would want to be armed, is going to be an answer for a place that is a refuge for learning, for creativity, for solace, for happiness and for our children,” Jackson Lee said during the interview. Jana Kasperkevic reports >>

10. Eight Texas Republicans vote against Superstorm Sandy relief. Texas Republicans were divided over providing $9 billion in federal aid to the victims of Superstorm Sandy, with 8 of the state’s 24 GOP House members voting no. The emergency measure — pulled from consideration on New Year’s Night by House Speaker John Boehner — was approved on a bipartisan vote of 354 to 67. Rick Dunham reports >>